We reprint here, with thankful acknowledgement to the informative Rorate blog, a commentary by Alessandro Gnocchi, from his column in La Riscossa Cristiana.

"The Next Synod is a Battle between Christ and the Antichrist: - On whose side will you stand?"

The Catholic world that is commonly called “not of the left” or “not progressive”, save the rare exceptions that are able to operate in a way that is truly going against the current, is made up of unconvincing intellectuals who are thirsting for legitimization, poor characters in search of an author who will put them on a stage and will make them recite whatever script is put in front of them. In the meantime, while the puppets leap and dance, the little theatre turns always more to the left until the mutation is complete. The language, the themes and even the principles that until the last pontificate were considered as non-negotiable adapt themselves to a public that always wants more and better: from political collaboration to doctrinal concessions the passage is very short, especially if there is the incentive of receiving applause from the world.

[There are those who] are scandalized by the fact that whoever tries to voice an objection in the face of the current situation is quickly labelled as “a divisive person”…The tactic of accusing dissidents of being “people who divide” usually is employed by those in power or by the spineless. We must remember that often those in power are the spineless who happen to have a lever of power in their hands. Whenever there is someone who dares to debate the issues in opposition, the ones holding power avoid the debate by withholding their own convictions and their real position, while the spineless avoid the debate because they have no convictions, and, if they have them, they do not have the courage to defend them. Nothing is easier than to hold up to public ridicule anyone who dares to crack the veneer of unity by delegitimizing him a priori; if he threatens unity, he is not allowed to speak. Truth, with a capital T, succumbs to expediency. Pilate, who prefers to remain a friend of Caesar, never stops looking for fellow travellers.

The Church of the last decades has functioned, or rather malfunctioned, by actually anchoring herself to a will to be the friend of Caesar. She has been weak to the point of losing blood on the ground of doctrine and morality. She has shown herself to be aggressive and unsparing in her repression and negation of every legitimate opinion that has the intent of reaffirming the doctrinal and moral truths. The result is to silence those whose intent is to defend her and to give free reign to those whose intent is to destroy her. This methodology is highly praised and is put into practice from the very top down to the parish church.

But now allow me to offer some considerations on the subject of one of the little jingle tunes that are often whistled by those Catholics who say that they want to oppose the drift to liberalism and in reality do nothing except to chase after it and are always being a step behind. I will limit myself to speaking of this one jingle, which is the following: “it is always better to do something even if it is not perfect than to do nothing.” These Catholics, who perhaps should be more accurately called Catholics-lite [cattolichetti] because of the tune they are always whistling, have lost sight of the posture that the Catholic should always assume in confrontations with the world. In this way, by persisting in colluding and cooperating with the world, they have dulled their spiritual sense to the point where they are not able to comprehend the gravity of the times in which we live.

They take delight in idealistic political plans of action, while what is really going on is a war between Christ and the Antichrist on a scale never seen before, where the survival of the Catholic faith is at stake. I repeat: we are in a battle to preserve the Catholic faith, and all the battles being fought on various fronts, even those that are so important like moral truth, are only the terrain of confrontation in a war that is much deeper, involving metaphysics and religion. The most important thing in play is faith. But faith is preserved whole and intact or it is lost. You cannot preserve just parts of it according to taste or expediency.

The choices that are made regarding crucial elements of moral teaching, which touch upon human nature itself, are the sign that will show whether faith will resist or yield. Because whatever accommodation, even one that is conceived as done for the good or perhaps using the moth-eaten concept of the “less bad”, represents an accommodation of the faith: a betrayal of Christ in favour of the Antichrist. The world of today does not need a law that is a little less bad than another because, as the lite Catholics say, “it is better to do something, even if it is not perfect, than to do nothing”. We are not fighting a battle to give something less bad to the world, but to remain faithful to Christ and his teaching, and only He can save the world.

This is what has made the Synod on the Family recently concluded so dramatic an event and will make the next one even more so. What happened and will happen, will be not only a face-off between two different schools of thought, but the face-off between those who intend to preserve the Catholic faith as a whole and those who want to change it. In a few words, even if we are talking about bishops, cardinals and the Pope and therefore my words may appear to you to be harsh, even there we are dealing with the battle between Christ and the Antichrist. It remains only for us to choose which side to stand on.

Catechesis for children: we are giving consideration to providing catechetical classes for children of school age. This would most likely be for one hour on Saturdays at 10.00 am (during school term time). For those interested, an additional programme teaching children singing, with an emphasis on Sacred Music, would run from 11.00 am. To assist us in planning, we are seeking expressions of interest from parents who may wish to enroll their children. Interested parents are asked to contact Fr Tattersall by email, with details of their childrens’ age and school year. We hope that the programme, should it go ahead, will commence early in May.

This Friday is the first Friday of the month. As previously indicated, we are dedicating the first Fridays as days of prayer and penance for the October Synod. Please come to Mass if you can, and offer your Lenten penance that day for this most important intention.

Filial appeal to Pope Francis on the Future of the Family: please consider this petition to Pope Francis, respectfully asking him to reaffirm clearly the Catholic teaching that divorced and civilly remarried Catholics cannot receive Holy Communion, and that homosexual acts are contrary to Divine and natural law: http://filialappeal.org.

Gregorian Chant one day Workshop: Saturday 14th March, 11.00 am - 4.30 pm at ‘Maryvale’. A brief history of the chant and its vital place in the worship of the Western Church will be followed by practical sessions on how to read and sing the neumes. It is hoped that, arising from this day, a group might be formed from any participants interested to sing at selected liturgies of the Newman Community during the year. All welcome ! (Feel free to notify anyone outside the community who might be interested.) The workshop will be run by Hugh Henry, director of Psallamus. BYO lunch. $10.00 charge to cover copying and other expenses. 0415 320 293 hughdhenry@gmail.com. R.S.V.P. Tuesday, 10th March.

How to pray the Divine Office: anyone interested in learning how to how to pray the Divine Office is invited to call or email Fr Tattersall this week. A class is being arranged to provide instruction in the use of the Breviary.

A Lenten project – support for Br. Shawn Murphy’s Seminary tuition: Br Shawn Murphy is continuing his studies at the Toronto Oratory in Canada, for the Brisbane Oratory in Formation. The Brisbane Oratory will be formally opened by Archbishop Coleridge on 26th May this year. Please consider – as a Lenten resolution - giving financial support to this worthy project, by helping to defray the costs of Br Shawn’s formation and education. Please email the Secretary, or contact Fr Tattersall, if you are able to make a donation.

2015 Year for Consecrated Life – Monastic Experience pilgrimage: in response to the dedication of 2015 to the Consecrated Life, a tour of several flourishing and vibrant contemplative Benedictine communities (all celebrating the traditional liturgy) is being planned for men aged 18 – 40. Tour participants must be within this age range, still discerning their vocation, and interested in learning about and experiencing traditional Benedictine monastic life. The pilgrimage will take place from 30th June to 25th July, 2015 (these precise dates to be confirmed), and will travel to Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey, USA, and to the French monasteries of Notre Dame de Fontgombault, St Madeleine du Barroux, and St Joseph de Clairval, Flavigny. Also included in the itinerary will be visits to some popular Catholic shrines and other places of interest. For more information, please contact Martine Watkinson on 0438 689 308, or Watkinson@hotkey.net.au.

Please note the change to the timetable for the next Mass at St Joseph’s, Iona: it is being held next Sunday, 8th March, and the next Mass following that will be Sunday, 12th April.

Newman Fellowship for Young Adults

Join our young adult's group, learn more about the Faith and make new friends!

Homily on our 10th Anniversary

12th October 2014, External Solemnity of Bl. John Henry Newman

Homily by Fr Tattersall

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God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons.

Bl. John Henry Newman

He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments. Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him.

Bl. John Henry Newman

If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about.